Fox Sports is moving away from Dave Portnoy on the network’s Big Noon Kickoff, and the Barstool Sports founder is blaming Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day.
Portnoy is a longtime Michigan Wolverines supporter after attending the Big Ten school before gaining his fame and fortune. However, Portnoy says his diehard fandom has put Fox in a difficult position after appearing on the college football pregame show for over a year.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reveals that Portnoy and other Barstool personalities like Dan “Big Cat” Katz are no longer appearing on Big Noon Kickoff. The 49-year-old Portnoy says there’s a lot more to the story, though, after releasing a lengthy NSFW social media rant.
“Ohio State and Ryan Day b*****d and moaned to the Big 10 and threatened Fox till they had no choice,” Portnoy wrote on X Friday evening. “Juice wasn’t worth the squeeze and frankly I don’t blame them. Huge dollars at stake and you have Cryin’ Ryan throwing temper tantrums and making threat every few days on something I said. I always knew Ryan Day was soft but holy s**t even I didn’t realize he was this soft.”
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Is Ohio State’s coach to blame?
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and quarterback Julian Sayin (10) enter the field with teammates before the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)According to Portnoy, he feels that Day’s to blame for Barstool’s altered relationship with Fox. It’s no secret that the vocal Michigan fan has been heavy on the criticism over the Wolverines’ top rival over the years.
Meanwhile, Barstool’s leader has gone on record in the past that he and his Barstool team aren’t allowed on the Ohio State campus for games. Last season, Portnoy claimed he wasn’t allowed to appear on Big Noon Kickoff when the show appeared in Ohio.
Just was told @AndrewMarchand is about to release an article saying I’ve been put on ice for @BNKonFOX I havent seen the article yet and he didnt call me for a quote but i can sum it up this way
Ohio State and Ryan Day bitched and moaned to the Big 10 and threatened Fox…
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 3, 2026
Given Portnoy’s outspoken nature, it’s very likely that we’ll hear more about this situation in the near future. Ironically, ESPN’s rival pregame show, College GameDay, heads to Iowa City this weekend as the Iowa Hawkeyes face off against Ohio State.
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It’s been a weird relationship between Barstool and Fox, considering Portnoy and his crew also host their own weekly college football show from campuses across America. Marchand says that Fox’s decision won’t affect Wake Up Barstool, a daily program the network shows on FS1.
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